Pleural Mesothelioma Causes
Pleural mesothelioma afflicts those who have been exposed to the tiny fibers of asbestos in the past. It is considered a cancer because fibers trapped in the lining around the lungs eventually cause some of the surrounding tissue to mutate, leading to the growth of malignant tumors. Persons who worked in occupations where they were routinely exposed to this material are at the highest risk for developing the disease, and pleural mesothelioma causes are the same for those who mined this material and those who simply worked with it in an industrial setting.
How Asbestos Affects The Lungs
Asbestos is a fibrous substance, a form of silicate compound, and it is mined throughout the world. It is extremely lightweight and also somewhat brittle; small parts of a larger piece often become loose and stay airborne for a long period of time. In a confined space, such as a rock crushing operation where asbestos is freed from other materials, the air becomes thick with microscopic asbestos fibers.
The material was also once used extensively to insulate pipes, walls, ceilings and even copper wires. Since these are mainly indoors, the confined atmosphere means that free-floating asbestos fibers are easily inhaled by those working in and around this substance.
The very nature of these fibers is such that they become trapped in the pleural lining of the lungs, where they remain dormant for years and even decades. Eventually they affect the surrounding tissue, altering it and reforming cells' structure and even their nuclei.
Rapid Spread Of The Disease
The asbestos fibers themselves cause enough damage over a period of decades that the tissue of the pleural lining begins to affect the tissue of the lungs. However this is generally not noticed by the individual because there are as yet no outward symptoms, nor does the affected tissue show up during a chest x-ray. However the way in which the tissue is altered begins to accelerate after a critical number of cells have been mutated. At this point the malignancy begins to grow at a rapid pace, and some of the cancer cells break from the main tumor and are carried by lymphatic fluid to other sensitive tissues in the body. Individuals usually begin to exhibit symptoms of the disease at this time.
Research Into Other Causes
There have been a limited number of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma who appear to have never been exposed to asbestos either directly or through contact with others who carry the fibers on their clothing or hair. It may be that several other compounds can affect the pleural tissue in a similar manner as asbestos, but as yet there is no conclusive evidence. Asbestos fibers remains the major culprit and if there are other pleural mesothelioma causes, science and medicine have yet to prove it.
The prognosis for individuals diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma is quite negative, yet there are legal options for those dealing with this disease. If you or a family member have developed this malignant cancer, seeking advice from a legal representative may be your best bet for finding out about possible compensation or medical treatment coverage. Please fill out the form on this webpage or call the number given to obtain the latest information about mesothelioma and the rights of patients afflicted with this condition.
